After seventeen weeks, the 2025 NFL Regular Season comes to a close, and even though the New Orleans Saints are out of the playoff race for the fifth consecutive year, hopes haven’t been higher in New Orleans in a very long time. There is a sense that the Saints are on the precipice of returning to contention in the NFC South in 2026, but before a massive offseason in New Orleans begins, a score needs to be settled with the hated Atlanta Falcons here at the end of the 2025 NFL season. The Saints’
arch-rivals got the best of the Black & Gold in New Orleans back in Week 12, and the Saints are looking to return the favor this week in Atlanta.
Although this is certainly the last time we see the Saints this season, this may very well be the last time we see Saints legends Cam Jordan and Taysom Hill in a Saints uniform. No matter what happens on Sunday, it is impossible to downplay the contributions both men made to this franchise for all the years we have had the honor to watch them play. Maybe one comes back next season, maybe both, but regardless of the future, we should celebrate the present, and hopefully they both have a few surprises left for this special season finale.
Now let’s take a look at the Saints’ regular season finale as well as all of the pivotal matchups in the final week of the 2025 NFL Season!
Last week, I went 9-7
I told you so: Giants over Raiders!
What do I know: Rams over Falcons?
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WEEK 18
Saturday, January 3rd – Saturday NFL Special
Panthers(8-8) at Buccaneers(7-9) – NFC South Championship Game
Playoff Scenario: A Carolina win, or an Atlanta win over New Orleans, clinches the NFC South title. A Tampa win, coupled with a New Orleans win over Atlanta, wins the NFC South title.
How the 2025 NFC South Division Championship will be won isn’t exaxctly complicated, but more convoluted than anything else. As usual, over the past half-decade, nobody seemingly wants to win this division, so it comes down to this. Tampa Bay has been in a stunning freefall since the start of November, losing 7 of their last 8 games, but they will fight like hell at home against their rivals with a record fifth-straight NFC South title on the line.
Carolina has alternated wins and losses every week since Week 7, and fortunately for them, this is their win week. Carolina will find a way to hang on to victory in a very close game, winning this game outright, and avoiding the need to root for an Atlanta win the next day. Carolina wins the NFC South for the first time in a decade, holding that space for now. Carolina wins 22-21.
Pick: Panthers
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Saturday, January 3rd – Saturday NFL Special
Seahawks(13-3) at 49ers(12-4) – Game of the Week – NFC West Championship Game
Playoff Scenario: Winner clinches the NFC West title and the 1st seed in the NFC, claiming a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
San Francisco is riding the wave of a six-game winning streak, catapulting themselves near the top of the conference in the process. Seattle is on an equally impressive six-game winning streak themselves, putting themselves atop the NFC after beating the Rams two weeks ago, kicking them down the NFC ladder. This showdown will live up to the billing, as this one comes down to the very last play. Sam Darnold has surprisingly done a lot to change the narrative of his play in the big moments, but this will be the story of Brock Purdy leading his team to a razor-thin victory when all of the chips are down. San Francisco wins 21-20.
Pick: 49ers
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Sunday, January 4th – Early Games
Browns(4-12) at Bengals(6-10)
Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland offense simply won’t be able to keep up with Joe Burrow and the Cincy passing attack. Cincinnati wins 21-12.
Pick: Bengals
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Colts(8-8) at Texans(11-5)
Playoff Scenario: A Houston win paired with a Jacksonville loss clinches the AFC South title.
Houston’s dominant defense sends Indy’s Philip Rivers off with a loss. Houston wins 24-16.
Pick: Texans
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Titans(3-13) at Jaguars(12-4)
Playoff Scenario: A Jacksonville win or a Houston loss clinches the AFC South title.
With the division title within their grasp, the Jags seal the deal with an impressive win at home. Jacksonville wins 22-7.
Pick: Jaguars
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Packers(9-6-1) at Vikings(8-8)
With their Wild Card seeding locked in, Green Bay has nothing at stake except to get themselves healthy. Minnesota takes advantage and ends their disappointing season with a winning record. Minnesota wins 26-21.
Pick: Vikings
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Cowboys(7-8-1) at Giants(3-13)
The Giants’ impressively bad season finally comes to an end with another loss to Dallas at home. Dallas wins 29-24.
Pick: Cowboys
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Saints(6-10) at Falcons(7-9)
As we potentially say goodbye to Taysom Hill and Cam Jordan, we must remember these are two notorious “Falcon hunters” and they are looking to have one more big impact game against a franchise they have long tormented. It is needed now more than ever, with Chris Olave out for this season finale, the Saints’ weapons are almost completely bare. Tyler Shough may need to depend on the former Saints quarterback to make some impact plays on offense, while Chase Young and the Saints defense put the clamps on the Atlanta offense.
The primary goal, of course, will be to slow down the dangerous Falcons rushing attack. Secondary to that will be Cam Jordan’s speciality, making life uncomfortable for Kirk Cousins. This game will be an absolute battle as Atlanta reminded everyone on Monday Night, they can play with the best of them, but this rivalry makes for som wild games with equally wild finishes, and this one won’t be an exception. Down by one, it will be Charlie Smyth who nails the biggest game-winner of his young career, sending the Saints to their fifth-consecutive win, to end the 2025 season. Saints win 23-21.
Pick: Saints
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Sunday, January 4th – Late Games
Jets(3-13) at Bills(11-5)
Following a gut wrenching loss at home to Philly last week, Buffalo will easily win the final game at the stadium they’ve called home for 52 years. Buffalo wins 31-15.
Pick: Bills
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Lions(8-8) at Bears(11-5)
Chicago missed a golden opportunity for the NFC’s top seed last week at San Francisco, but head coach Ben Johnson won’t blow this opportunity to throttle his former team in a playoff tune-up for “Da Bears”. Chicago wins 52-21.
Pick: Bears
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Chargers(11-5) at Broncos(13-3)
Playoff Scenario: A Denver win clinches the 1st seed in the AFC, claiming a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs
With this win over Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers, Sean Payton leads Denver to the top of the conference, making Denver the odds-on Super Bowl favorite in the AFC. The Bolts will keep it close in an exciting matchup, but the Broncos take the crown. Denver wins 34-31.
Pick: Broncos
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Cardinals(3-13) at Rams(11-5)
Following a brutal loss in Atlanta on Monday Night, the Rams take out all of their frustrations on sad-sack Arizona. Los Angeles enters the playoffs looking more like the team they thought they were before their late-season swoon. Los Angeles wins 31-9.
Pick: Rams
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Chiefs(6-10) at Raiders(2-14)
With the winning ticket in their hand, the Raiders won’t do anything that keeps them from cashing in on the Fernando Mendoza jackpot. Kansas City ends their remarkably disappointing season with a routine win in Las Vegas. Kansas City wins 26-10.
Pick: Chiefs
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Dolphins(7-9) at Patriots(13-3)
Playoff Scenario: A New England win paired with a Denver loss clinches the 1st seed in the AFC, claiming a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs
New England will do everything they can to secure the AFC’s top-seed while doing some scoreboard watching at Denver as well. New England wins 31-17.
Pick: Patriots
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Commanders(4-12) at Eagles(11-5)
Washington’s incredibly disappointing season ends the same as the last NFC Championship Game, with a big loss in Philly. Philadelphia wins 36-24.
Pick: Eagles
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Sunday Night Football Finale
Ravens(8-8) at Steelers(9-7) – AFC North Championship Game
Playoff Scenario: Winner clinches the AFC North title, while the loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
The big stars will come through in the biggest moments of this AFC North title tilt. Aaron Rodgers, Derrick Henry, and Patrick Queen, as well as returning stars TJ Watt and Lamar Jackson, all will rise to the occasion. It will be the star that doesn’t return, DK Metcalf, due to his suspension, that ultimately keeps the home team from winning this de-facto playoff game. Lamar Jackson will lead Baltimore into field goal range on the final play, where Baltimore wins the division crown with a walk-off field goal. Baltimore wins 24-23.
Pick: Ravens
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There you have it, the final week of the 2025 NFL regular season. Here’s to the Saints getting back to playing for the playoffs next season! Leave us your picks, comments, and insight below!
